Method of and apparatus for ball making



'Oct. 1, 1929. J. R. GAMMETER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BALL MAKING192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 26 Oct. 1, 1929. J. R. GAMMETER METHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR BALL MAKING Sheets-Sheet Filed April 26, 1927Patented Oct; 1, 1929 JOHN R. GAMMETER, F AKRON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO A. G

CORPORATION or new JERSEY SPALDING AND BROS, A.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BALL MAKING Application filed April 26,

lhis invention relates to amethod of and apparatus for making a ballhaving a core held under compression by a tensloned outer the increasedcoeflicient of comes into play when a rubber thread is the core,

structure to provide the high coeflicient of elasticity, giving a quickreflexing of the ball, which is an important factor in the long flightof golf balls, for example.

Heretofore the desired stress conditions in golf balls usually have beenobtained by winding a rubber thread under high tension upon a coreconsisting of a flexible envelope containinga fluid or a substanceadapted to become fluid before the ball is ready for service, the fluidserving to transmit forces in such manner as to make the elasticity ofthe tensioned layers of thread the chief factor of resilience.

I have found that it is desirable to wind the thread'under such hightension as to exceed the range in which it has a substantially constantcoefficient of elasticity and thus to have the thread in the finishedball under such high tension as to function with elasticity whichstretched almost to its maximum of elongation.

In winding the thread under high tension ithas been dificult to regulatethe tension of the thread accurately and to avoid breakage of thethread, and the Winding of successive layers of the thread has had theeffect to some extentof contracting the core and also the first--woundlayers-of thread and thus of relieving the said first-Wound layers of apart of their tension. I

In my U. S. Patent No. 1,167,396 a hightension rubber winding isobtained by winding a liquid-filled core with rubber thread under lessthan the desired final tension and then expanding the wound structureandthus increasing the tension of the winding by inserting a hollow needleinto the core, through the winding. and injecting additional liquidunder high pressure into through the needle, but a defect of thispractice has been that the needle cuts and weakens the rubber windings.

The chief objects of my invention are to provide a highly stressed ballstructure without requiring the Serial No. 186,69

winding of rubber thread under such great tension as to be subject tofrequent breaking to provide for increasing the tension of a windingofrubber thread upon a core. after the winding has been done, without cutting or weakening the thread; and to provide without winding rubberthread a ball comprising highly stressed rubber adapted to function witha high coetiicient of elastici sired quick reflex ty to give the ballthe demg which is essential to the full elasticity of the ball beingexpressed against the golf club. for high velocity of the ball, beforethe ball passes out of contact with the club and, for accuracy, beforethe ball so changes its relation to the club as to cause the reflexingof the ball toproduce a transverse force destroying the accuracy of theshot. A further ob]ect is to provide an inexpensive ball having in ahigh degree the performance c of the other haracteristics of golf ballspresent standard "construction. Anobject is to provide in an improvedmanner a ball comprising a core containing a gas under pres the highresilience of the gas elasticity in the b sure and thus to employ as afactor of all as a whole.

f the accompanying drawings: F 1g. 1 is a side elevation. with partsbroken away and parts sectioned.

of apparatus embodying and adaptedto carry out my invention n itspreferred form.

F 1g. 2 is a sectional vation, of a golf b view. with parts in eleallcore and means for injecting a fluid thereinto.

Figs. ,3 to 10 ar e medial sections of inner compression structuressuitable for the manufacture of balls in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawings. the apparatus comprises a press fixed endclosure closure or door 10* with a pair of rails series of cars 12.mounted a ball-w P may be of anv suitable construction but whichpreferably is of shown and descri 1,468,406 to 33. L.

the general construction bed in U. S. Patent No. Schick.

- coupling member adapted to mate with the coupling member 16 on the endof the next adjacent ball winding machine, the said shaftbeing provided,outside of the tank, with a belt pulley 19 connected by a belt 20 with amotor 21, for driving the several'ball-winding machines while they arein the pressure tank.-

' For injectingadditional pressure fluid into fluid-containing ballcores 22, 22 mounted in the respectivemachines a hollow needle 23, foreach machine, is detachably secured upon the end of the piston-rod 2-]:of a fluid-pressure cylinder 25 which is supported, in suitable positionto insert the needle into a ball core held in the respective winder, bya charging pipe 26 rigidly connecting 'its rear end with a manifold 27supported in the pressure chamber and communicating with a supply pipe28 leading thereinto and provided on the exterior of the chamber with athree-way charging and venting valve 29;" For actuatf therein as shownand ing the cylinders piston in the opposite direction, to withdraw thecylinder from the ball-core, each cylinder is connected at its forwardend, by a pipe 30, with a manifold 31, supported in the chamber andcommunieating with a supply pipe 32 leading into the chamber andprovided on the exterior of the 40 chamber with athree-way charging anding valve 33. a

For supplying pressure fluid to each of the hollow needles 23 the rearpart of the passage of each needle communicates with a flexible pipe 34secured to the needle and connected ventat its other end to a manifold35 supported in the chamber and communicating with a sup- Ply P P v1dedvalve 37.

In the preferred practice of my invention a 'wall adaptedautomaticallyto seal against the escape of pressure fluid therefrom ismounted in each 7 of the winders and the rubber-thread winding isstarted thereon while the winder is outside of the pressure-chamber. Theseveral winders with the cores therein are then run into the pressurechamber and associated the cylinders 25 age actuated to'insert one ofthe needles 23 into each of the cores.

A fluid under pressure, which may be water I or air, isthen conductedinto the pressure able size the machines are e 36leadii1g into thechamber and pro- K outside of the chamber with a stop proached itschamber and at the same time an equal or slightly higher pressure isbuilt up in the cores by forcing an elastic fluid, preferably carbondioxide or other inert gas, into the the tension of the thread beingonly such that subsequentexpansion of the core, when the external fluidpressure thereon is released, will produce the desired final tension inthe winding.

Thus the tension of the thread during the winding maybe so comparativelylow as to avoid frequent breaking of the thread and other diflicultiesof winding and tensioning the thread.-

If desired, the pressure in be gradually reduced as the windingproceeds, and in this way the cores may be caused to remain of almostthe same size throughout the winding operation notwithstanding theincreasing constricting effectof the winding.

The pressure within the chamber also may be so controlled as to produceonly such shrinking, of the core underthe constricting effect of thewinding that upon the final release of the external fluid pressure theinner layers of the winding, partially relaxed by the constriction, willbe stretched to substantially the same final condition of tension as theouter layers, notwithstanding the fact that in expanding a laminatedhollow structure by internal pressure the inner plies, as a matter ofgeometry, are given a greater percentage of stretch than the outer plieseven though the wall thickness remains the same.

When the coreshave been wound to suitstopped. the presthe chamber maylot) sure in the chamber is completely released, the

chamber is opened, the winding machines are removed therefrom, the woundcores are removed from the machines and the rubber thread is severed andthe end of the winding is anchored by passing it under one or more turnsof the winding.

The usual covers, consisting chiefly of gutta percha, are then appliedto the wound centers in the usual manner, and the balls are thuscompleted.

The product is a ball in which the final stretching of the winding, uponthe release of the external fluid pressure, brings it to a condition,sometimes called a condition of supertension, in which it has so closelyaplimit of elongation as to function with a high-coefiicient ofelasticity in the finishedg ball. and in which the .resistance of thethread to further stretching determines ably smaller size b the finalsize of the Wound core, ready for the cover, with adequate accuracynotwithstanding slight variation in the internal fluid pressure ofsuccessive cores.

A suitable core for the procedure just described is shown in Fig. 2, thecore there shown comprising an inner spherical shell 38 of uncured,non-vulcanizing rubber or rubber compound and an outer spherical shellof vulcanized rubber 39, the unvulcanized rubber being adaptedautomatically to seal itself against the escape of contained fluid uponthe withdrawal of the needle 23. Other self-sealing compounds, such asgelatin or the like, may be employed in place of the raw rubber.

As alternatives to employing the core of Fig. 2 and proceeding as abovedescribed any one of the cores shown in Figs. 3 to 10 may be employedand put under compression by fluid pressure in the chamber and thusconstricted to a suitable size before the winding machines are started,to expand subsequently when the external pressure is released and thusproduce the final tensioning of the winding, the employment of theneedle being omitted.

v The core of Fig. 3 comprises a spherical body 40 of vulcanized softsponge rubber and an imperforate covering of vulcanized rubpression ofthe ball.

he core of Fig. 4 consists of a sphere of l vulcanized sponge rubberhaving comparatively large cells in its central regionand smaller cellsnear its surface, so that the comparatively dense outerregion willmainpressed by the fluid pressure to smaller size. he core of Fig. 5consists of a spherical central portion f sponge rubber and acomparatively thick spherical shell of solid rubber l3 thereon. thethick wall of solid ruber being adapted to develop a high tension strainin the direction of its thickness in the compression of the core.

By the use'of a suitable blowing agent the sponge rubber core may-be somade that the sponge rubber center will be under compression and thesolid rubber shell under tension when the core is removed from thevulcanizing mold and before the winding is begun, which permits the coreto be reduced to a considerexternal fluid pressure without collapsing orbuckling as the result of too small a fluid pressure within the shell ascompared with the external fluid pressure.

The core of Fig. 6 shell ll of impervious vulcanized rubber containingnumerous vulcanized rubber particles l5, T5, of irregularshape, forwhich windings of scr p rubber thread may be sub- A winding ofcomparatively wide stituted. rubber tape may be substituted for theshell spherical form as it is com-,

comprises a spherical.

rubber of the core.

The core of Fig. 7 is a simple hollow ball of vulcanized rubber, with athick wall, which is preferably stretched by the use of a blowing agent,by forming it in a body of fluid at super-atmospheric pressure to entrapcompressed fluid therein, or by injecting fluid into it, beforesubjecting it to the external fluid pressure employed in covering it,the wall permitting it stretched condition of the be compressed tosmaller size without to provide a fluid-tight cover for the scrap tobuckling.

In Fig. 8 is shown a shell of vulcanized rubber formed by molding twohemispherical sections and thereafter cementing 0r vulcanizing themtogether, preferably upon a suitable spherical member of vulcanizedrubber or other material, each section of the shell being formed withradial recesses extending outward from its inner face, to permitdeformation of the rubber under the force of the external fluidpressure. The core of Fig. 9 comprises a pair of hemispherical shellsl7, l7 molded of sponge rubber and preferably cemented together and aspherical shell l8 of solid vulcanized rubber enclosing them.

The core of Fig. 10 is substantially the same as that of Fig. 9exceptthat for weighting the ball a central sphere 49 of suitablematerial, which may be metal or a weighted sphere of raw or vulcanizedrubber, is enclosed by the lemispherical shells of sponge rubber.

Suitable weighting material may be incorporated in the rubber portion ofany of these several types of cores to give the finished ball thedesired weight.

Various modifications are possible within the scope of my invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. The method of making a ball which comprises fixing astrain-resisting covering upon a core while holding the core in a bodyof fluid under super-atmospheric pressure.

2. The method of making a ball which comprises forming a core withfluid-containing space therein out of communication with the exterior ofthe core and fixing a strain-resisting covering upon the core whileholding'the core in a body of fluid under super-atmospheric pressure.

3. The method of making a ball which conprises forming a core withfluid-containing space therein and with a self-sealing wall, injectingfluid into the said space through said wall, permitting said wall toseal itseli against a return flow of fluid, and fixing a.StlttllldQSlStlHg covering upon the core while holding the core in abody of fluid at superatmospheric pressure.

at. A method as defined in claim 3 in which the fluid is injected intothe core while the core is held in a body of fluid which is pressurechamber.

maintained at; super-atmospheric pressure throughout injection of fluidinto the core and subsequent fixing of the covering material upon thecore.

5. The method of making a ball which comprises forming a core withfluid-containing space therein, holding the core in a body of fluid andso increasing the pressure of said fluid and concurrently injectingfluid, into said core as to maintain the cores internal and externalfluid pressures approximately equal, and fixing a strain-resistingcovering upon the core while external fluid pressure is maintained uponthe coreand without substantial escape of fluid from the core.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 in which the strain-resisting coveringis applied to the core by winding stranck material thereon.

i'. The method of making a ball which comprises winding strand materialupon a core while holding the core in a body of fluid atsuper-atmospheric pressure.

8. -T he method of making a ball which comprises forming a compressiblecore, reducing the size of the said core by external pressure thereon,preliminarily to applying a cover thereto, and applying a cover on thecore while it is so held to reduced size.

9. The method of making a ball which comprises forming an elasticenvelop, distending the same by internal pressure of an elastic fluid,reducing the size of the distended envelop and increasing the pressureof the fluid therein by subjecting it to a preponderating external fluidpressure. and so operating upon the envelop while it is thus held toreduced size as to determine the size itwill assume upon release of theexternal fluid pressure.

10. A method as j defined in claim 9 in which fluid is-injected into theenvelop before it is operated upon as defined to determine its ultimatesize.

11. The method of making aball which comprises forming a rubber core andfixing the rubber of the core in astrained condition by applying acovering structure thereto while holding the core in a body of fluid atsuper-atmospheric pressure.

12. comprises forming a hollowcore with a selfsealing wall. injectingfluid into said core through said wall-whileso increasing the pressureof fluid upon the exterior of the core as to-avoid bursting or bucklingof the core, and. while maintaining the external fluid pressure,permitting said wall to seal itself against a flow of fluid from thecore and winding strand material upon the core.

13. Ball-making apparatus comprising ameans in said chamlier forapplying a covering toa ball-core, and means traversing a wall of thechamber for operating the said applying means while a superatmosphericfluid pressure is maintained within the chamber.

The method ofmaking a ball which' 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13in combination with means in the chamber for injecting fluid into -aball-core contained therein.

15. Ball-making apparatus comprising a ,pressure chamber and a.ball-winding machine therein.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 in combination with means in thechamber for injecting fluid into a ball-core contained therein. R

17. Ball-making apparatus comprising a pressure chamber, a ball windertherein, and means in the chamber including a hollow needle mounted forreciprocation for injection of fluid into a ball-core held in the saidwinder and for withdrawal of the needle from the ball-core.

18. The method of making a ball which comprises winding strand rubberupon a gastilled core while holding the core in a body of fluid atsuper-atmospheric pressure.

19. A method of ball making which includes the steps of reducing thesize of a compressible element, and thereafter fixing a strain resistingcovering thereon.

:20. A method of ball making which includes the steps of reducing thesize of a compressible element by subjecting it to superatn'losphericexternal fluid pressure, and thereafter fixing a strain resistingcovering thereon. I

21. A method of ball making which includes the steps ofreducing the sizeof a compressible object, by applying pressure to its entire surfacearea simultaneously, and thereafter aflixing a strain resisting coverthereon. s

22. A method of ball making which in cludes the steps of fixing a strainresisting covering upon a spherical object while holding the object in abody of fluid under super-' atmospheric pressure.

23. A method of ball making which includes the steps of winding .st-randmaterial upon aspherical object while holding said object in a body offluid'nnder su peratmos= pheric pressure. I

24. A method of .ball making which includes the steps of forming a,compressible spherical object, reducing the size of said object byexternal pressure thereon, and fix: ing a cover on said object while itis so held to reduced size. 25. A methdd of ball making which includesthe steps of forming a compressible rubber spherical object, and fixingthe rubber ofs'aid object in a compressed condltion by applying a.covering structure thereto while holding the object in a body of fluidI at 'superatmospheric pressure.

In witness whereof I have hand this 22nd day of April, 1927.

J OHN R. GAMMETER.

hereunto set m

